Surface decorating method and apparatus



y 1939. H. F. GUNDLACH SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY HOWARD F. GUNDLACH fifi4. WW1 $7.5m

- A ORNEYS 8, 1939. H. F. GUNDLACH SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1937 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.6

INVENTOR. Han/A20 in" Gun mach 424 Y'fla Q ATTORNEYS H. F. GUNDLACH SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS July 18, 1939.

Filed Dec.

15, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [V w w u w HNE M fi 8 w H MW 0) W r U a ma a RH. s

n WW w: rm N N Patented July 18,1939

PATENT OFFICE.

SURFACE DECORATING METHOD AND APPARATUS Howard F. Gundlach, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Oxford Varnish Corporation, .Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 15, 1937, Serial No. 179,954

Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a surface decorating apparatus, and especially to an improved form of apparatus for transferring a pattern to Workpieees, the surface contours of which deviate drical pattern surface to a workpiece, having a surface-contour diflering from the surface contour of a pattern.

A further object of this invention is to provide 16 a work decorating transfer member, which will cooperate with a pattern' surface and a workpiece,

in such-a manner that the pressurebetwee'n the member and either the pattern or workpiece may be regulated'without regard to the deviations in surface contour of the workpiece from that of the pattern. w

A more specific object of this invention'is to provide a transfer roll, the surface of which may be positively brought into a true cylindrical form,

or which may be positively deformed, prior to the application of the roll to either the pattern or the work, and which cylindrical or deformed conditions may be positively maintained while the roll is engaging the pattern or work.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transfer roll, a predetermined surface area of which 'may be positively deformed, and which deformed area will extend circumferentially of the roll adistance less than the entire circumference, and wherein those portions of the roll surface which are not deformed will remain in a true cylindrical formation.

Other objects and features of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description relating to the accompanying draw-' 'ings, which illustrate preferred forms of my.in-

vention. The essential features of the invention will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a plan view of a decorating apparatus, in which my invention is incorporated; Fig. 2 is a substantially vertical-section of the apparatus, as indicated by the lines 25-2 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertic'alsection, as indicated by thelines 3-3 on Fig. 1; to Fig. 4is an enlarged vertical section through the transfer member, the plane of the section being indicated by the lines 4-4 on Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is asection similar to Fig."4, but illustrating the transfer roll in a true cylindrical form; Fig. 6 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, illustrating a modified form of roll, adapted for use-in the decoration of workpieces having a portion thereof raised out of the general plane of the work, rather than a portion depressed from such plane; Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig; 3, and illustrating a \5 modified form of roll, adapted for use in connec-, "tion with a workpiece, which varies irregularly from the general plane thereof; Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the transfer roll illustrated in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view,-similar'to Fig. 8, 10 but illustrating the transfer member in a true cylindrical condition.

Referring in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that there is provided a decorating appara tus comprising a table or frame III, in the nature 15 of an inverted box. Adjacent one end, the frame Hi, there is provided a mounting H, adapted and arranged to support a pattern or printing plate l2, in spaced relationship and substantially horizontal alignment with a workpiece W. The work- 20 vpiece W is removably mounted at the other end of the table by a support ll. The upper surfaces of side walls I5 of the table l0 areprovided with racks I6, which coact with respective gears ll of a transfer-roll 20, and maintain the transfer roll 25 in joint registration with the pattern and workpiece. The roll 20 is also provided with a'pair of discs I8, which, engage rails I! carried by the table walls l5, thus limiting the pressure between the roll 20 and the pattern and workpiece.

The apparatus above described is. well adapted to use a photo-engraved plate as a pattern. When such a plate is used, color, for instance a printing ink, is applied to such plate and the excess color removed-in a manner well known in 35 the intaglio printing arts. The transfer or offset roll 20 is then placed on the pattern and rolled thereacross, thus the design in color is transferred from the pattern to the transfer coating 2| of the roll. The roll is then progressed alongtheqn rails l9 and brought into engagement'with the workpieces W, whereupon the design is transferred from the roll to such workpieces.- The roll is then removed from theapparatus and cleansed to prepare it for another cycle of operation.

It will be noted from Fig. 1" that the pattern there shown is a smooth planar plate. The workpieces, however, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, have depressions WI formed therein. In the past it has been found difficult to accurately transfer a design from a planar printing plate to such I a. deformed workpiece. Various devices and mechanisms have been provided, som of which are more or less successful, such as, f r instance, that, shown in my copending applications, Serial 55 No. 113,406, filed November 30, use, No. 155,644, filed July 26, 1937.

Generally such devices have been such that the change in the form of the roll was dependent upon the amount of pressure used in maintaining the roll in contact with either the pattern or printing plate. For some types of decoration this pressure is not critical. However, incertain and Serial types of decorations, such as the application oi? designs which simulate'fine woods, this pressure should be maintained at the minimum requiredto excessive or unbalanced printing pressures cause a blurring of certain portions of the design and a loss of sharpness and accuracy of the detail.

The transfer mechanism of the present invention overcomes the foregoing disadvantages by providing a transfer member, the predeterminedform of which is changed entirely independently of the printing pressures, and such printing pressures are positively limited while at the same time the roll is maintained in an irregular shape which will conform to the irregularly shaped suriace'to be printed.

As heretofore mentioned, the transfer roll is provided with a pair of discs l8, which travel along tracks N on the frame Ill. The pattern and work supports are arranged to be adjusted vertically by supporting wedges l3, such wedges being shown in Fig. 3. Any suitable means (not shown) may be provided to move th'ese wedges, relative to each other, and maintain them in an adjusted position. This arrangement of supports for the pattern, the work andthe transfer roll enables the relativeadjustment of these members to permit the pressure of the roll on either the pattern or the work to be considerably less than the weight of the roll, and, in 1act,less than the pressure required to distort the transfer material of the roll an amount suflicient to cause it to simultaneously engage the low and high surfaces of the work WI and W2, respectively.

The transfer member comprises a roll-having a coating of flexible or distortable transfer material, and is provided with mechanism which positively distorts this material and positively returns it to its original condition without in any way affecting the printing pressure, and in such may be maintained with all points of the pattern and with both high andlow areas of the workpiece.

Obviously, the pressure betweenv the roll and the patternmay difl'er from the pressure between the roll and the work, if such becomes desirable, because of the relative natures of the respective surfaces.

The transfer roll, as shown in Figs. 3 to 6,

inclusive, comprises a hollow cylinder 2|, having suitable end members 22, to which the gears l1 and discs l8 are secured. The wall of this cylinder is provided with an opening 29, which is substantially the same area as thearea of the depressed portions WI '01 the workpiece, or, as

shown' in the drawings, this'area may. be subnmar stantially the same as the depressed portions of two workpieces, thus enabling a plurality of workpieces to be simultaneously decorated.

- The opening 29 in the cylinder 2| is normally closed by a movable segment 2l.' This segment 26, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is movable bodily toward and ,away from the periphery of the roll, being slidably mounted between a pair of guideway members Z'l, formed internally of the cylinder ti. This segment is provided with a hollow bossportion 28, which extends inwardlyyond the axial center of the roll, and through which a shaft W extends.

The shafttll is rotatably mounted in end mem mm M of the roll and is provided with a pair of cams ti, arranged to engage wearing pads M of the hollow boss oi the scent. These ca ti are so arranged that consequent upon the rotation of the'shait it through, for instance, an

angle of one hundred and eighty degrees, the

extension 2t is moved outwardly fromtheposition shown in Fig, ii to the position shown ,in

face of the segment 26 forms a continuation of the cylindrical surface of the cylinder 2!], d causes the transfer material, which envelops the roll, to assume a true cylindrical shape, where as, when the shaft has been rotated to move the segment outwardly, the transfer material supported by thesegment is pressed 'or deformed outwardly beyond the normal circumference of the roll. The amount of this extension is such that the distended surface of the transfer material will extend into the depressionWl of the workpiece and engage such surfacewlth substantially thesame as the surface pressure between other portions of the roll surface and the high portions W2 of the work surface. Thus the roll may be moved across the workpiece with a minimum amount of contacting pressure, inasmuch as the distortion of the roll is accomplished entirely mechanically by positively'distorting the base cylinder on which the roll is mounted, and

in no way depends upon the pressure between the roll and the workpiece. The decoration of the workpiece is thereby accomplished with a minimum amount of distortion.

To further avoid the distortion of the design,

tern in substantially the same spaclngssthe 7 lines on other or non-distended portions of the having a more or less regular depression formed therein. However, I also contemplate the pro- 'vision of a segment.26a for the decoration of workpieces wherein the smaller surface area. is raised relative to the major portion of the work=- piece surface. Such a workpiece is indicated at W3 in Fig. 6. Here the segment 2iaand the cam,

when. extended the maximum distance, cause amuse the surface of the segment toform a continuation of the cylindrical surface of the roll, and when the cam 3la is turned to the position shown in Fig. 6, the segment 28a is drawn inwardly, drawing with it the transfer material 25. Thus, the irregularity of the roll takes the form of a depression.

To aid in the controlling of the deformations of the roll, the rubber sleeve 24, to which the tain conditions, to secure the rubber sleeve 24' to the segment 26 and to the cylinder 2|, by some'suitable form of cement. Those areas of the sheath 24, adjacent the junction between the surfaces of the cylinder and the segment, may be left uncemented, thus limiting the stretching of both the gum material and elastic sheath to a point adjacent the junction of the surface of the cylinder with the surface of the segment. The distortion of the surface of the transfer material may be thus regulated and more easily compensated for in the pattern, as, for instance,

by compacting the lines of the pattern heretofore" described.

In Figs. '7 to 9, inclusive, I have illustrated a modified form of transfer roll, which is especially adapted for work, the surface of which varies from a common plane in.an irregular manner. For instance, the variation shown in the workpiece W4 in Figs. 7 and 8, where it will be noted' that these irregularities extend transversely and longitudinally of the workpiece. In

this modification, the cylinder 2| is preferably formedin semi-cylindrical sections, which are bolted together by bolts 40. One of these cylindrical members is provided with a recess 4|, ar-

ranged to receive a plurality of blocks 42, which may be separated by anti-friction members 44, to facilitate a free sliding movement of the blocks relative to each other, and the walls of the cylinder recess 4|.

Each of the blocks 42 has secured thereto .a threaded plunger or stud 45. These studs pass inward through respective guideways 46, formed in the wall of the cylinder which forms the base of the recess 4|, and extends through guide openings formed in an operating block 46. The operating member 46' is slidably mounted in guideways 41 formed in the inner walls of the cylinder 2|a, for movement in a direction parallel with the extent of the blocks 42.

The operating'member 45 'is provided with a hollow boss 49, similar to the boss 28, heretofore described, in connection with the segment 26 and through which the-shaft 30 extends. The

of the operating member 46 lies.

walls of the boss formation 49 cooperate with the cam members 32 in a manner similar to that heretofore described in connection with the segment 26. The studs 45 are provided with a pair of shoulders 50 and 5 I, between which the flanges These shoul; ders may be provided by nuts and lock nuts, and thus adjustable relative to' the studs.

This arrangement of the stud shoulders 50 and 5| is such that when the cam 3|. is in thjposition shown in Fig. 9, the operating member 46 cooperates with the upper shoulders 50 ofthe studs and maintains each of the blocks" in its innermost position. When in their innermost positions, the inner ends of the blocks cooperate with the base wall of the recess 4|, and the outer faces of these blocks form a continuation of the surface of the cylinder 2|a. When the cam is moved to the position shown in Fig. 8, the op- 5 crating member 46 engages the abutments 5|, forcing the blocks outwardly, as shown in Fig. 8. Obviously, the configuration of the roll shown may take any substantially desired shape, as it is possible to project each of the blocks out- 10 wardly a distance which is controlled entirely by the location of the shoulder members 5| relae tive to the blocks. Inasmuch as'the shoulders may be adjusted, the throw of the blocks may likewise be adjusted, thus providing a roll which 'may be used for several different varied deformations in workpieces.

The surface contour of the roll is changed, as

desired, by rotating the shaft 30 relative to the roll. As shown in the drawings, especially in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is secured to the shaft 30 an arm 60, which is provided with a roller 6|, arranged to engage a bar 62 carried by the walls of the frame I0. As the roll is moved from the pattern along the frame, the roller 5| engages the bar 62, thus arresting the rotation of the shaft 30, while continued movement of the roll rotates the latter and causes a relative ,rotary movement to be imparted between the roll and the shaft. The arrangement is such that this movement distends the segment 26 and distorts the roll. The bar 62 is so arranged that when the distortion is complete, the roll itself will have progressed to such a position where the roller 6| disengages the bar 62. Thereafter, the frictional-contact between the cams 3| and the segment 26 or the control block 46 causes the roll 20 and the shaft 30 to rotate as a unit, thus decorating the work with the deformed roll. When the decoration of the deformed area of the work has been completed, a second roll Gla, carried'by an arm 60a, which is also secured to the shaft 30, engages a'second cam bar 52a, and again causes relative rotary movement between the shaft and the roll, 'thus returning the roll to its cylindrical form by a posi-v tive-action.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention includes a true transfer roll and operating mechanism therefor, which roll may be positively deformed or positively brought into a true cylindrical formation, entirely independent of any pressure between the surface of the roll and the surfaces. of the pattern or' work. Such deformation is accomplished by means which acts from within the roll, positively distorting the surface or periphery of the roll, thus enabling the roll to be used in connection with articles of work, the surfaces of which deviate from a common plane, while psing the printing preson sures which are mostadvantageous to the transfer operations.

I claim:

1. In a work decorating mechanism, a pattern, a work support, a deformable transfer roll, means 05 to move the transfer roll alternately into rolling contact with the pattern and with work carried by said support, means to positivelyrestrain the roll against deformation when the roll is in contact with the pattern, and means independent of the printng pressure between the roll and the work to positively deform the roll whilethe roll is in contact with the W0lk..

2. In a work decorating mechanism, a pattern,

a work support, a deformable transfer roll, means whereby the transfer roll may be brought alternately into rolling contact with the pattern and with worl; carried by said support, means to positively restrain the roll against deformation when the oll is in contact with .the pattern, means to limit the pressure between the roll and the workpiece, and means independent of the printing pressure to positively deform the roll and maintain the roll deformed while the roll is in contact with the workpiece.

3: In a decorating machine having a pattern and a work support, the combination of a transfer roll, means whereby the transfer roll may be shifted alternately. into rolling contact with the work carried by the support and with the. pattern, means to maintain a predetermined pressure be tween the transfer roll and the work while the roll is in contact with the'work, means to positively deform the roll prior to'the engagement of the roll with the'work, and means to maintain the deformation of the roll constant while the roll is in rolling contact tvith the work.

4. In a decorating machine having a pattern and a work support, the combination of a transfer roll, means whereby the transfer roll may be bodily shifted alternately from rolling contact with the work carried by the support and into rolling contact with the pattern, said transfer roll having a shiftable segment, means to maintain a predetermined pressure between the transfer roll and the work while the roll is. in contact with the work, means to positively shift said segment prior tothe engagement of the roll with the work, and means to positively shift the segment to another position subsequent to the engagement of the roll with the work.

5 In a decorating machine having a pattern and a work support, the combination of a transfer roll, means whereby the transfer roll may be al-' ternately shifted bodily from rolling contact with the pattern into rolling contact with work carried by said support, said transfer roll having a shiftable segment, means to positively shift said segment to a predetermined position relative to the roll prior to the engagement with work car.- ried by said support and to maintain the segment in such predetermined position while the affected surface area of the roll is in rolling contact with the work;

6. In a decorating machine having a pattern and a work support, the combination of a transfer roll, means whereby the transfer rol'lmay be alternately shifted .from-rolling-contact with the pattern into rolling contact with the work carried by said support; said'transfer roll having a shiftable segment and a sheathe of resilient transfer material, means, acting consequent upon the shifting of the roll to positively shift said segment to a predetermined position to deform the transfer material prior to the engagement of that portion of the roll affected by such shifting with work carried by said support and maintain the segment in such predetermined position while the affected surface area of the roll is in rolling contact with the work,

shift said segment todeform said coating prior 1 to the engagement of the affected portion of the transfer coating of ,the roll with a coacting surface, and means'to return the segment to its normal position to return the roll to a cylindricalform.

8 In a transfer roll, a core including a radially altars shiftable scent, the circ 1 1w erential dimension of said segment being less than the circumferential dimension of the core, a tubular body of transfer material enveloping said core and segment and selectively operable means carried by the .roll to move said segment to either of two predeteed positions. Y

9. A normally cylindrical transfer roll comprising a cylindrically surfaced cone including a movable seent the surface of which normally f part of the surface of said core, an outer layer of flexible transfer material extending over the core and scent, a shaft extending through the core and means carried by said shaft and acting on said segment to maintain the surface of said segment in circumferential alignment with the surface of the core, said lastnamed means also beingadapted and arranged to positively move said segment to a predetermined position to move and maintain the surface of said segment out of alignment with the surface of the core. i

it. In a transfer roll having a core including a section movable inwardly relative to the core to form a depression in said roll, such depres- 25 sion being less in length than the length of the roll, selectively operable means to depress and maintain depressed said section or to move said segment to a non-depressed position, as desired.

ill. in a transfer roll having a coreincluding a plurality of shiftable segments extending about the roll in a circumferential direction, a tubular body of transfer material enveloping said core and segments, and selectively operable 'means .carriedby the roll to move said segments to ei-., ther of two predetermined positions, whereby a portionof the surface of said transfer material will be. moved out of cylindrical alignment with the balance of such surface thereby positively deforming the roll to cooperate with a surfacev to be decorated which surface has relatively, raised and lowered areas.

12. In a transfer roll for decorating surfaces which deviate from a common plane a cylindrical core including a plurality of 'shiftable segments extending about the core in circumferential and axial direction and'normally forming part of the cylindrical surface of the core, a tubular body of resilient transfer material enveloping said core and segments, and selectively operable means carried by the roll t'o-move said segments to either of two "predetermined positions to distort said transfer material from a normally cylindrical contour, and means where by the distance of movement of said segments may be adjusted relative to each other.

13. In a transfer roll for decorating work pieces, the surface of which deviate from a--common plane, a normally cylindrical core, a sheathe' of resilient transfer material enveloping said core, means carried by the core to distort a portionof the transfer material, the surface area I of the distorted portion extendingin a circumferential direction, a distance less than the circumferential dimension .of the surface of the transfer material, and in an-axial direction, a. distance less than the axial dimension of the surface of the transfer materiaL' 14. The method of decorating" a surfacehaving an area deviating from a common plane, the

,length'of' such area being less than the length of the surface to be decorated, comprising ape plying color to a printing plate, the surface of which lies substantially in-a common plane, and having a predetermined portion of the design 15. In'a transfer roll, a core including a radi drical body having-a resilient transfer coating ally shii'table segment, the circumferential diby rolling contact with the pattern, so that the mension or said segment being less than the cirdistorted area of the patternis applied to a precumierenti al dimension of the core, a tubular determined area of the transfer body, distorting body of transfer material enveloping said core ano es a '5 exaggerated, transferring such color to a cylinsuch area of the bodv bringing the body into and segment, and-means carried by the'roll to rolling contact with the work so thatthe distortmove said segment to distort the roll surface. ed area of the body coacts with that area of the work which deviates from a common plane. HOWARD F. GUNDLACH. 

